After Light phoned her sister, she waited for Jack to pick her up and take her to her place. She wasn't feeling well enough to ride her car, so she asked Jack if he could do it for her and bring her car too since he kept it after he brought her to the restaurant the other day.

In their way to her sister's house, Jack asked her how she was "How have you been feeling? Boss told us that you are in a sick leave."

Looking through the window she answered him "I wasn't feeling that bad but, the other night at the restaurant I suddenly started feeling like my head was about to explode. Hope took me to the hospital and, lucky me, Paul was on his shift and put me on leave."

Jack perceived a bit of anger in her voice and kind of understood her. She didn't like that anyone told her what to do, and even less to tell her to leave, temporarily, her job; but still, he was glad the doctor did it. He didn't like seeing her mad about the situation, but he liked it less whenever he saw her in pain. "Come on, don't say it like that."

"It's just…. He didn't need to cut me out of work!" Exclaimed the soldier angrily.

The blond man tried to reason with his companion "I don't know what to say Light. I kind of agree with him. I think it's for the best."

After she calmed herself down, Lightning let go of a sight and commented "I was going to ask for some days, but after…all this ended… Now it wasn't the moment."

"We've been stuck in the same place for months; I don't think we will progress much while you're gone. Right, Watton?" Assured her Jack.

Barking from the back seat, the German shepherd dog agreed with Jack.

Chuckling at the situation, Light commented "Don't use him to make yourself right. You know he agrees with anything you ask or do. You're like his dad for him."

"Why do you think I asked him? When mama is upset, it's dada's turn to cheer her up and put the kids by his side."

"Ugh, okay, fine. But then, do as mama told you once in a while please."

Laughing at the comic situation he created, the blond man gave her a serious glance, indicating the woman he was serious. "Now seriously, Light. Please use this free time and rest. We're all worried about you. And as I'd saw before, I know we're not the only ones. Was that the Hope we so heard about?"

Light responded without hesitation to the excited man. "The one and only."

"Wow! I can't believe he was the one who build an entire planet! He's planning on building another one in this world too?"

"No. He's just a regular scientist. Kind of."

"Too bad, I would go straight to live there if I knew he was building one." Jack was one of the fewer people that regained the memories from the other world. He was one of the citizens of New Academia and remembered Hope's works and achievements as well as the day that all went to hell. He even told Light once that he saw her sister Serah and Noel go around the city and that it was because of the resemblance with her sister, that he recognized Light when he first saw her in the new world. Jack didn't get to be saved by Light as the savior, but he did hear about her during the last days of the world.

"I'd be kind of sad if he needed to build one." Remarked Light.

"Oh, sorry." Apologized the blond noticing that his comment could be interpreted like, the world she fought to give to humanity, wasn't good enough.

"I know you're a fan of him, don't worry."

After that, they stayed a while in silence. They could only hear Watton's little barks, indicating that he was in some kind of dream.

They were only thirty minutes away from Serah's house and the road they were going on was completely deserted. It was only half past four and at that time was when workers started to go back home. It was strange to see it almost empty.

"Where's everyone? I could almost do a zig zag in the middle of the road and nothing would happen."

"Please don't. But it is strange. There aren't even cars coming from the other way..."

Looking through the middle mirror, Jack saw a car behind them. "Oh, hey. One popped out of nowhere. And it's strangely getting closer to us."

Lightning took a peek from the side mirror and it didn't felt good what she saw. "Jack, I don't like this."

"And what do you want me to do? Stop and tell them to stop being scary?" Not long after the words left his mouth, the car from behind bumped in to them with strength. "Shit!"

"I don't think they're friendly either." Said Light getting a hold of the glove box of the car when the attacker made another impact.

"Thank you for having a good car!" Pleaded the blond and pressing the gas pedal.

"Thank me later and do the zig zag thing! They're going for it again!"

Following the soldier's advice, Jack started to turn the wheel to try to lose the pursuers.

Searching through the glove box in the front, Light finally took out a gun. Jack wasn't sure about what was his friend about to do. "Are you sure that's going to work?"

"It's better than sit and see how they destroy my car." Lowering the window, she got half of her out of the window and aimed for the car wheels.

The stranger car received some gunshots, but none of them hit the wheels. To avoid being hit, the car, too, started to zig zag.

"Damn it. I can't aim well like this."

Another problem was getting closer. "Oh no. Light, the road is ending."

"Head to the old headquarters. If he's attacking us, he must know who we are and where are we heading to." Will it stop following us or will it still try to get us?

"Roger!"

Not losing any speed, they went straight to their old main quarters with the attacker following close behind. It was located at the outskirts of the city and nearly in the middle of nowhere, but still well-connected to the centre city. It was usually used for the trainers and for saving old documents and archives. But most importantly, the Field-Marshal was there located so it was highly secured.

Arriving to the first barrier control, Jack made a light sign with the car lights that the guards understood and elevated the barrier for them. Both cars passed and were getting closer to the headquarters.

Waiting for the sign to stop at the right moment, the blond stepped as much as he could the gas pedal while Light grabbed the handle above her head. Finally seeing the red flag, Jack turned the wheel and stepped on the brake pedal to make the car do a U-turn not leaving the other car time enough to do the same, and was left in the middle of the parking of the building. Several snipers shoot the wheels and made the car stop. The other soldiers that came from headquarters started to surround the car, and aimed it with guns and rifles.

Jack and Light waited in the car while they listened the General order the owner of the car to come out.

"Last warning before my men get you out by force!" Not receiving any sort of sign from the stranger, the General ordered some of his men to get closer and take the person out, but, to his surprise, there was no one in.

"Remote controlled?!" Exclaimed surprised Jack.

"Seems so." Murmured Light letting a sight of relieve.

Getting out of the car, both soldiers went to meet the Trainee General. "Edevan and Farron. It's been a long time. Causing trouble even out of the training fields, I see. You're lucky I'm by Daniel's and his crazy 'Special Unit' side because if not, I would charge you the cost of this… spectacle." Threatened the old man.

"Sorry for the trouble, sir." Apologized the young woman.

"In our defence, it had been following us since we came out of the city." Tried Jack to convince the old man that it wasn't a joke.

"Now it's done and I'm glad to see you're both fine. I'll inform about this to Daniel myself, but do a report about all what happened. That's all." The man gave orders to move away the car and for his troops to return to the previous duties.

"Thank you, sir!"

After the old man said his orders and made his way back in, Jack spoke "So, back to your sisters'?"


Finally arriving to Serah's house, Jack parked in front of the building. It was six o'clock now, and they both were desperate to end the day.

"You said you were staying in your aunt's house, right?" Asked Light not moving from the car, exhausted and with a lifeless gaze.

"Yeah, she lives here." Responded simply the blond man.

Silence returned to them and, still none of them moving, Watton barked to make them move.

"Light, your child demands attention."

"I want divorce."

Deciding that they had to move, both soldiers got out and while Jack untied Watton from the back seats, Light grabbed all her things from the boot.

"How are you going to work tomorrow?" Asked the pink haired woman.

"Nabil said he could come and get me. He might come with Wen so pass by my aunt's place around half past eight, so they can see you. We were planning on doing a visit anyway so, come and say 'Hi' if you feel well enough."

"I'll be there."

Giving each other their respective goodbyes, they both went to their home. Excited to be in a different environment, Watton started smelling everything he went past. "I'll take you out in a minute. Just let me drop this stuff first." Commented Lightning knowing that the little accident must have had some effect on the animal.

Light rang the doorbell and waited for her sister or Snow to open the door. The later was the one to grace her with his presence. "Nice to see you sis- A dog! It's a dog!" Exclaimed excited the big man kneeling and starting to pet the dog, which the pet responded happily.

Serah came from behind him. "I told you you'll like him."

"I need to take him for a walk first, so could you-"

"I'm on it." Grabbing the lead from Light, Snow stormed off running along with the animal.

The owner of the pet was left speechless. "My dog just got kidnapped in front of me?"

Serah chuckled at her sister's speechless face. "Come on in. I'll show the house."

The residence of the couple was modest. An average two floor white house with a little garden without private car park. Once inside, you were received by a big creamy coloured living room that had an opened L-shaped kitchen at the end on the left; separated by an elevated table and three stools. The bluish sofa was giving it's back to the kitchen facing the TV and with an armchair, same colour as the sofa, on it's right. On the left side of the main entrance there was the dining table that you could see from outside thanks to the big window.

She guided her to the stairs, in front of the kitchen, to the second floor. Once there, she was presented by a hallway with only three doors: one on the left and two on the right; one being at the end of the hallway and the other closer to the stairs that was the bathroom. Serah showed her the bathroom, it had a bath at the end of it, two sinks, the toilette in front and some cabinets for the towels, she assumed; and told her that there was only one, so they had to share it. Continuing the tour to what was going to be her room for the night, they entered the only door that was on the left. The room was large but not too big. The wardrobe was on the left of the entrance, some bookshelves here and there and a desk at the far-left end of the room, but she couldn't see any bed. Then, the younger Farron sister got closer to the desk that was near the window and pulled something down; forming a bed.

"That's quite convenient." Said Light surprised.

"I usually use this room to prepare my classes but I thought it could be a guest room too and when I saw this at the furniture store, I just had to take it with me." Informed Serah looking at her sister that went to see through the window that faced the garden.

Once the things were left in the room, both sisters returned downstairs.

Sitting on one of the stools and watching her sister go through her kitchen to make dinner, Light started to talk to her "So, how long have you been living here?"

"We've been living in this house for two years now. But we've been in London for a bit longer. None of us was born here if that's what you're wondering."

"Serah, I'm actually wondering something else but I'm not sure to ask…"

Not facing her big sister, she assured her "Ask me anything. I'll try to answer."

Trying to think carefully her next words, Lightning dropped the question "Okay. Then, what's your surname?"

Not moving an inch from where she was, Serah responded calmly "My bag should be around there. You can see it yourself."

Lightning did as told and grabbed the bag from the counter and searched for her sister's ID. While looking through Serah's bag, the soldier's nerves grew exponentially. Ever since she regained the memories from the other world and discovered that she had a little sister, there was a though that kept coming to her: what if they weren't biological sisters anymore? There was also the possibility that Serah grew up in a completely different family and had other sisters or brothers. Along the years though, she convinced herself that it didn't matter what surname was written, she would still be Serah's big sister.

She finally found the ID and, to her surprise, her sister had the surname: "Farron. You're actually Farron?" Asked happily and surprised to Serah.

The younger sister had turned around to see her reaction and responded with a smile "Yes!"

Letting go of a sigh she didn't know she was holding, Light continued "You know how worried I've been all these years?"

"I though you knew this already." Informed Serah still smiling.

"I'm not going to lie. I knew I had a little sister just five years ago, at the same time I regained the memories from the other world."

The news she received from Lightning didn't make sense to Serah. "But that's strange. I remembered everything five years ago too, but knew I was your sister at age nine."

Lightning wasn't having a good time either trying to connect all the new information. "How did you know?"

"Dad told me before he died. And yes, he was the same as in Cocoon."

The soldier couldn't believe what her sister just said. "You were with dad?!"

"Yes. As long as I remember I've always been with him, but I never met mum."

"That's because I was with her."

Now it was Serah's turn to be surprised. "No way! That means we… really could be… real sisters?"

"I think mum told me some time ago that she was married once, but decided to split up not long after I was born."

Serah started to fit all the pieces. "So, once I was born, dad took me with him and you staid with mum. But why mum didn't tell you about me or dad?"

"She evaded any question I asked about dad. But I still don't get it… Why did dad told you about me but mum didn't tell me about you?"

The younger sister saw Light's sad expression and tried to end the topic. "Let's not think much about this. The important thing is that we are together now."

"Right." Serah couldn't resist any longer and went to her sister to embrace her, which Light returned without hesitation. "I'm really happy to see you've been fine all these years… I was worried you might have ended up somewhere where you weren't happy or safe… But knowing you were with dad has made me lift some weight."

"I wish you could have met him again, sis. He was the same as I remembered. I guess mum was too. Even her disease?" Asked the younger Farron with sad expression.

"She was. Fortunately, her illness wasn't that strange here but it took her away anyway."

"Let's pay both of them a visit when we can."

It was at that moment that Snow decided to return. "Damn, this dog is fast. I'm beyond exhausted…"

Watton went straight to his owner to get attention, that he received. "What did you expect? He's only three years old. He just wants to play and play and play."

Snow sat by her side. "I know that now. But I must say, this was a better surprise than the other one."

"What other one?" Asked doubtful the older sister looking at Snow and asking herself if she really wanted to know the answer.

Knowing her fiancé's mind, Serah covered him "Snow, honey, why don't you get a shower while I finish dinner?"


"So that woman was right. She really is in the army. This couldn't be any better!" Shouted the man at the same time he laughed hysterically.

"You shouldn't be laughing at this. Now we know that who you saw that day was really her, and we could have done this already if you had captured her then and there."

"You don't know what this means don't you? We don't have to do absolutely anything. She'll come to us by her own two feet."

"Bhunivelze, why do you insist in letting her coming to us instead of going ourselves? We know where she is."

"There's no use in doing that when we're not ready for it. And we can't get closer to her that easily either. Not with Hope and her guardian always beside her."

"So, we just need to get them away from her. I bet you can take care of Hope."

"That's what I'm doing, Paal's."


It was nearly bed time, but Serah and Light weren't getting any of that. They both were going through Serah's photo album in the living room. Snow, and his new friend Watton, went back to bed giving some alone time to the sisters.

The older sister couldn't stop smiling watching Serah and her dad in the pictures. "He really was the same as I remember."

"And his personality too! Look at this picture." Said Serah pointing at a photograph where you could see father and daughter happily posing beside a snowman that wore a cup hat. "He always wanted to put that type of hat on every snowman we build."

"Even if the snowman we made was smaller than the hat."

"Dad was very childish but I think it was his way to get closer to us."

"It worked better with you than me, but then again, you were always a daddy's girl."

"And you a mummy's girl. I can't even count the times you helped mum in the kitchen and burned the food. But she never got mad at you, not even once!"

Both sisters realised that they had good memories of her parents in both worlds, and they couldn't be happier for that, but losing them so young, in both worlds, saddened them too. In any of both opportunities' life gave them, they could see them graduating, getting their first job, getting married or having a family of their own. Fate always seemed to not want them to see it. "I wished they could see us now. Especially you."

Knowing she was referring to her getting married, she joked "So dad can tell me I'm doing the wrong thing and see how mum fattened my fiancé?"

"You forgot the part where they scared the shit out of him just by looking at him. I swear those looks could kill."

Still laughing at the funny but very possible scenario, Serah tried to say "And what about them judging your job? Dad would be like 'Please, Clare, cover yourself up! That's not a very lady-like pose.' And mum being all 'Yes! That's my daughter right there!'."

Serah suddenly remembered one of the talks their dad gave them. "And of course, 'the boy's talk' they gave us."

Her older sister didn't put a good face at her mention. "I still remember that day and what I thought back then 'No more boys.'"

"But they still came anyway, right?" Commented Serah giving her a 'you know what I'm talking about' look.

"Serah?" Warned Light knowing that her little sister liked to get involved in her love life more than she wanted.

"Come on, sis! I need to know. What's going on between you and Hope?"

"Me and Hope? Where did you get that from?" Asked incredulously the soldier.

"I know he's living with you."

Lightning tried to reason with her sister. "He's not living with me. He's just staying for some days."

"But you let him that easily." Although she wasn't giving up her though that easily.

"It's Hope. It's not like I'm letting in a complete stranger."

"Even so, it's a huge step what you just did." Serah was trying to make her big sister see that live with someone was a big thing, couple or not. Living together was the moment when you could know how that person is. She was not going to say it to her, but she was also surprised that she let Hope, of all people, live with her, knowing that she was probably the only other person she lived with.

Lightning was having a hard time trying to explain her decision, but, at the same time, she didn't even know why she decided that in the first place. This morning Hope asked her again if she wanted him living there, and she just agreed without a second thought. It goes without saying that the young man was beyond surprised and happy that he even hugged her; a hug that made her feel how happy he was and made her happy too about her decision.

But thinking about it coldly, it really was a big step so, now she was asking herself how was it possible she agreed so easily. "I…"

With a serious face, Serah asked her what she thought it could be the reason for her sisters' behaviour. "Sis, do you have feelings for him?"

"Serah, you just want a fairy tale." Responded the older woman tiredly.

"I'm serious, Claire. Do you feel something for him?"

"I… don't know… I mean, I can't compare it with what I felt for other men before."

"And how does it feel?"

"It feels like… I'm in the right place. Like I don't have to be just Claire, or Light, or even the savior. I can be all of them or none and I know he understands me."

By the way her sister was talking, it made Serah think that she wasn't talking about what has she seen or felt in the last weeks they've been seeing each other's. "Sis, how long have you been feeling this?"

Lightning started to not like where the conversation was going. "I know where are you going Serah. It's not that."

"How do you know it's not? Stop feeling with your head and feel with your heart. What do you feel when you're with him? Just one word."

Lightning was about to say the word to end the topic, but something inside of her seemed to not let her express it. She felt that, if she responded, there was no turning back. And she didn't feel ready yet. The soldier got up from the sofa, wanting some alone time. "Serah, I don't want to talk about this."

"But…!"

"Just drop it! I'm going to bed."

Serah stayed downstairs and waited to hear her sister's room door close, so she could get back up without bumping into her.

"Everything okay, babe?" Asked Snow coming from the stairs. He heard Light's shout and came down stairs to see what happened. He crossed paths with the older sister, but by the looks of her face, he didn't want to be a punching bag this late and decided not to ask her.

"Yes, everything's fine."

"That's not what it looked like to me." Said the blond man, sitting next to his future wife.

"It's just… I just want her to realise her feelings…"

"Maybe it's not the time yet. I'm sure sis will tell you when the time comes."

"I hope so. I really like Hope for sis."


In the guest room, Light was sitting on the bed, petting Watton's head, that had laid down over her lap. Lost in though about her early conversation with Serah, the woman didn't notice that she had stopped petting the animal and it was looking at her questioning.

Returning to reality, the woman finally saw Watton's face. "Sorry. Let's go to sleep." When Light made a move to get in the covers, Watton jumped from the bed and went to the soldier's bags and graved a small wrapped box. He brought it to her. "I don't think it's a good moment to open this…" Lightning recalled the moment Hope gave it to her before Jack arrived and told her to open it when she got to Serah's house. The dog kept offering it to her.

She could read the tag attached to it 'To Light' written in Hope's handwriting. She finally graved the present and unwrapped the paper and a simple black box came up. The woman lifted the top and saw a note. 'Happy Birthday'. He remembered? Curious about what could have the researcher got her, Light lifted the thin cloth and saw a silver bracelet. It had a simple silvered chain that had a tree at the centre with little crystals at the tree's leaves.

"The tree of life… Yggdrasil…" Whispered Light with a slight smile and didn't waste time on putting it on. She saw that it fit perfectly and turned her arm around to see how the crystals reflected with the moon light coming through her window. Watton came to her side and sniffed the new object while he got comfortable to sleep.

Lightning also got herself inside her covers with the intention of ending the day and, while doing so, she never tore her gaze away from the present until she fell asleep.